Rotor assembly for snow blower

ABSTRACT

The application discloses a rotor assembly for snow blower, which assembly is of the type having a centrally located horizontal hub, a series of spoke-like shovels fixed at the inner ends to the hub and radially projecting therefrom, the outer ends of the shovels being rigidly interconnected. The assembly comprises a series of snow-chopping blades corresponding in number to the number of radial shovels, having one end secured to the outer ends of the radial shovels and extending away from the shovels to lie in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to the radial shovels and coaxial with the hub, the blades further bending longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly and the blades having a concave cross-section when viewed from the hub. The chopping blades are interconnected to prevent deformation during rotation by a series of rigid bars.

United States Patent 1191 Blanchet ROTOR ASSEMBLY FOR SNOW BLOWER Hilaire Blanchet, 300 Route 13, Wickham Court, Drummond, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 463,116

[76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 365,955 7/1887 Walker 416/195 446,773 2/1891 Haughawout.... 37/43 C 467,607 1/1892 Humphreys 37/67 507,253 10/1893 Arthur 416/196 A 768,106 8/1904 Williams 37/67 833,797 10/1906 Olll'ich 37/67 1,149,931 8/1915 McDonald .416/196 A 1,593,585 7/1926 McCallum.... 37/43 B 1,693,187 11/1928 Walling 37/43 B 2,029,816 2/1936 Ewing... 37/67 2,090,790 8/1937 Fray 37/67 2,390,421 12/1945 Cadwell 37/43 B 2,408,459 10/1946 Tuttle 37/43 C 2,569,273 9/1951 Alexandre..... 416/175 2,650,439 9/1953 Hickman 37/43 B 1 i l 1 l j j kil 1 1 7 II 11 1/ II I 1/ 1/ 1 '1 1/ i 11 '1 I1 ,1 I], ,IL-III"E=-:T L; 1 (J U T-T F 314 /-.'F;s1 l I l 1', :651 y I 1 1 I 1 [Fag/-11 1 1'1 '/E :1 use?" ll 12 7'\ 1 3 '1' 11 1, 1'1 11' 1 1 I I Nov. 4, 1975 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-Steven A. Bratlie [57] ABSTRACT The application discloses a rotor assembly for snow blower, which assembly is of the type having a centrally located horizontal hub, a series of spoke-like shovels fixed at the inner ends to the hub and radially projecting therefrom, the outer ends of the shovels being rigidly interconnected. The assembly comprises a series of snow-chopping blades corresponding in number to the number of radial shovels, having one end secured to the outer ends of the radial shovels and extending away from the shovels to lie in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to the radial shovels and coaxial with the hub, the blades further bending longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly and the blades having a concave cross-section when viewed from the hub. The chopping blades are interconnected to prevent deformation during rotation by a series of rigid bars.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,916,542

U..S., Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 on 3,916,542

ROTOR ASSEMBLY FOR SNOW BLOWER The present invention relates to a rotor assembly for a snow plow and more particularly to improvements in rotor assemblies of the general character disclosed in my prior Canadian Pat. No. 596,739.

In the use of the rotor assembly of this prior Canadian patent, I have found that the distribution and shape of the snowchopping blades were not such as to provide the best efficiency particularly in the softening of banks of hard snow and ice and attributed this inefficiency to the fact that the outline generally described by the snow-chopping blades was that of a rectangle or diamond and therefore contrary to the circular path followed by the blades. 1 have therefore devised a new rotor assembly more in conformity with the actual path followed by the blades and the type of work expected from such blades and found that such a new rotor assembly appreciably improved the work of chopping a snow bank, particularly of hard snow, and feeding it into the radial shovels throwing the broken snow into the expelling chute.

Another important result which is obtainable with the new rotor assembly of my invention is the prevention of the packing of snow between the rotor and the casing housing since the general outer layout of the rotor follows the same configuration as that of the easing.

More specifically, the rotor assembly of my invention is of the type having a centrally located horizontal hub, a series of spoke-like shovels fixed at the inner ends to the hub and radially projecting therefrom, the outer ends of the shovels being rigidly interconnected by structural members. The rotor assembly of my inven tion is characterized by the provision of a series of snow-chopping blades corresonding in number to the number of radial shovels, the blades having one end secured to the outer ends of the radial shovels and extending away from such radial shovels to lie in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to the radial shovels and coaxial with the hub. The blades further bend longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly and have a convex cross-section when viewed from the hub. Further according to the invention, each blade is longitudinally twisted counterclockwise when viewed toward the tip thereof and tapers longitudinally gradually from the end secured to the outer end of the shovel to which it is connected.

The blades, as aforesaid, are interconnected for stiffening purposes preferably by means comprising, for each relevant chopping blade, a first rigid bar fixed at one end to the inner end of the preceding chopping blade, and at other end to the center of the relevant blade and a second rigid bar fixed at one end to the center of the relevant blade and at the other end to the tip of the following blade; the following and preceding blades being considered with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly.

Still preferably, the shovels are U-shaped elements with outwardly diverging lateral flanges and means are provided to rigidly interconnect the outer ends of the shovels, which means are constituted by a plurality of straight members each having one end flatly fixed to the lateral flange on one side of one shovel and the other end fixed to the top edge of the flange of the pre- 2 ceding shovel on the side thereof opposite that of the flange of the said one shovel.

It is believed that a better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the description that follows of a specific embodiment of my invention having reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotor assembly made according to my invention and shown in bold lines, the assembly being mounted on a tractor'illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the rotor assembly of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof, and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 44 of FIG. 2. spoke-like Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rotor assembly 10 made according to my invention and shown within a casing and ejector C mounted at the forward end of a tractor T. The rotor assembly has a centrally located horizontal hub 12 on which a series of spole-like shovels 14 are secured by having their inner ends welded or otherwise fixed to the hub 12, the shovels l4 radially projecting from the hub. As will be noted, six such shovels 14 are illustrated although. as will easily be understood. there may be more or less shovels depending on the size of the assembly itself but I have found that for the usual street cleaning work. six shovels give a particularly good result.

The tips of the rear edge of the shovels 14, with respect to the direction of forward displacement of the tractor T, are interconnected by means of straight flat bars 16.

In accordance with the invention, the assembly is provided with a series of snow-chopping blades 18, corresponding in number to the number of radial shovels 14. Each blade 18 has its inner end secured, as by welding, to the outer end of a radial shovel l4 and extends away from the corresponding shovel to lie in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to the general plane of the radial shovels 14 and which is coaxial with the hub 12, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As can be seen particularly in FIG. I, the blade 18 also further bend longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly 10 which, referring to the said FIG. I, is of course counterclockwise. Finally, the blades I8 have a concave crosssection when viewed from the hub 12, this feature being best illustrated in FIG. 3.

The above blade arrangement and configuration, as will easily be gathered, are closely related to the rotary movement of the whole assembly which can either be clockwise or counterclockwise. I have found that such an arrangement and configuration appreciably improve the efficiency of the assembly, particularly by avoiding snow from packing between the outer periphery of the blades 18 and the casing C. Also, the rotor assembly is better able to bite into hard compacted snow as will as icy snow banks.

Another feature that can easily be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 3, particularly, and which helps in driving the blades into a snow bank lies in that each blade tapers longitudinally gradually from its end secured to the outer end of the shovel 14 to which it is connected. Additionally, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, each blade is longitudinally twisted clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from the tip thereof, depending on whether the rotor assembly turns clockwise or counterclockwise.

The above noted blade features make it possible to chop and throw the chopped snow toward the spokelike shovels 14, this action being, as it seems, particularly due to the inwardly concave cross-sectional shape of the blades. Also, the blade features make it possible to avoid having snow trails left out on either side of the casing.

in order to ensure rigidity to the blades 18 during rotation, suitable stiffening means is proposed in accordance with the present invention, which stiffening means comprises, for each relevant chopping blade, a first rigid bar fixed at one end to the inner end of the preceding chopping blade, at the other end to the center of the relevant blade 18, and a second rigid bar 22 fixed at one end to the center of the relevant blade and at the other end to the tip of the following blade, the following and preceding blades mentioned being considered with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to the rotor assembly. Preferably, further stiffening blades 24 may be provided between the shovels l4 and the center points of the blades 18 where the bars 20 are connected.

As shown, blades 20, 22 and 24 are preferably flat.

In the embodiment herein shown and described, shovels l4 and U-shaped elements with outwardly diverging lateral flanges 26, 28 (FIG. 4) and their outer ends are rigidly interconnected by a plurality of straight and flat bar members 30 each having one end flatly lying against and secured to the lateral flange 28 on one side of one shovel 14 while the other end is fixed to the top edge of the flange 26 of the following shovel 14 on the side of the latter opposite that of the flange 28 of the previous shovel.

As shown, particularly in FIGS. 1 and 4, the top borders of the lateral flanges 26 and 28 of the shovels 14 are somewhat straightened as at 32 and 34. Furthermore, the longitudinal edge of the flanges 28 is inwardly inclined.

Obviously, the reinforcing arrangement by means of blades 20, 22, 24 and 30, as described above, can be somewhat varied and is merely given by way of example as it is obvious that the chopping blades 18 require some sort of reinforcement in order to withstand the pressures applied thereto during rotation and prevent their being twisted out of shape.

I claim:

1. A snow blower rotor assembly of the type having a centrally located horizontal hub, a series of spoke-like shovels fixed at the inner ends to said hub and projecting from said hub in a plane which is radial to said hub 4 and means rigidly interconnecting the outer ends of said shovels, the improvement residing in the combination therewith of a. a series of elongated, 2 sided snow chopping blades corresponding in number to the number of said radial shovels;

b. wherein each snow-chopping blade has an inner end secured to one of said shovel outer ends, projects away from said one of said shovel outer ends along a longitudinal axis to an outer end and lies in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to said radial plane of said shovels;

c. wherein in said cylindrical plane each blade is tapered gradually in width from its inner to its outer end and each blades outer end is inclined longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of the rotation to be applied to said rotor assembly;

d. wherein each blade has a concave cross-section when viewed from said hub;

e. wherein each blade is twisted about its longitudinal axis from its secured inner end to its outer end;

f. stiffening means interconnecting said chopping blades to prevent deformation thereof during rotation; said stiffening means extending in said generally cylindrical plane whereby said blades and stiffening means form, in rotation, a generally hollow cylinder open at one end and closed at the other end by said radial shovels and wherein said stiffening means comprises, for each chopping blade, a first rigid bar fixed at one end to the inner end of the preceding chopping blade and at the other end to the center of said each blade on one side and a second rigid bar fixed at one end to the center of said each blade on the other side and at the other end to the outer end of the following blade; said following and preceding blades being considered with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to said assembly.

2. A rotor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shovels are U-shaped elements having outwardly diverging lateral flanges terminating into top edges and wherein said rigid means interconnecting the outer ends of said shovels is a plurality of straight members each having one end fixed flatly on the lateral flange of one shovel on one side of the said one shovel and the other end fixed to the top edge of the diagonally opposite flange of the following shovel on the side of the said following shovel opposite that of the flange of the said one shovel. 

1. A snow blower rotor assembly of the type having a centrally located horizontal hub, a series of spoke-like shovels fixed at the inner ends to said hub and projecting from said hub in a plane which is radial to said hub and means rigidly interconnecting the outer ends of said shovels, the improvement residing in the combination therewith of a. a series of elongated, 2 sided snow chopping blades corresponding in number to the number of said radial shovels; b. wherein each snow-chopping blade has an inner end secured to one of said shovel outer ends, projects away from said one of said shovel outer ends along a longitudinal axis to an outer end and lies in a generally cylindrical plane perpendicular to said radial plane of said shovels; c. wherein in said cylindrical plane each blade is tapered gradually in width froM its inner to its outer end and each blade''s outer end is inclined longitudinally forwardly with respect to the direction of the rotation to be applied to said rotor assembly; d. wherein each blade has a concave cross-section when viewed from said hub; e. wherein each blade is twisted about its longitudinal axis from its secured inner end to its outer end; f. stiffening means interconnecting said chopping blades to prevent deformation thereof during rotation; said stiffening means extending in said generally cylindrical plane whereby said blades and stiffening means form, in rotation, a generally hollow cylinder open at one end and closed at the other end by said radial shovels and wherein said stiffening means comprises, for each chopping blade, a first rigid bar fixed at one end to the inner end of the preceding chopping blade and at the other end to the center of said each blade on one side and a second rigid bar fixed at one end to the center of said each blade on the other side and at the other end to the outer end of the following blade; said following and preceding blades being considered with respect to the direction of rotation to be applied to said assembly.
 2. A rotor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shovels are U-shaped elements having outwardly diverging lateral flanges terminating into top edges and wherein said rigid means interconnecting the outer ends of said shovels is a plurality of straight members each having one end fixed flatly on the lateral flange of one shovel on one side of the said one shovel and the other end fixed to the top edge of the diagonally opposite flange of the following shovel on the side of the said following shovel opposite that of the flange of the said one shovel. 